senior dog diet homemade

Our Favorite Homemade Dog Food Recipes for Senior Dogs

A healthy, nutrient-rich diet is important for any dog, regardless of age. However, for senior dogs, its even more essential. Being mindful of what and how much your older pooch eats can go a long way in helping to manage common issues associated with dog aging, includingobesity. There are lots of high-quality, specialty dog foods available and Ive had great success with some of them but they can be expensive. Making your own dog food is a more affordable alternative to commercial versions and youll be able to control what goes into it. If youre concerned about your pooch missing out on nutrients, addingsupplements can be helpful too.

Be sure to keep any food allergies or dietary restrictions in mind and talk with your vet before starting your dog on a diet of homemade food, particularly if they suffer from any health conditions. You might also need to adjust the ratio of protein to grains and veggies to accommodate your dogs needs. With that in mind, here are a few of my favorite homemade dog food recipes for older dogs that contain tasty,safe ingredients.

Brown Rice, Turkey and Veggies

VetCo has some great vet-approved homemade dog food recipes and resources, including this one for a simple, healthy meal ofbrown rice, turkey and vegetables. Once the mixture cools, you can divvy it up into single servings (the recipe makes about 12 cups) and either refrigerate the portions for up to five days or freeze them.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 2 cups brown rice
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• package frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower (or chop two cups of fresh vegetables and cook them for about four minutes until theyre just starting to get tender but still firm)
• 6 cups water

Directions:

1. In a large pot, add the water, rice, ground turkey and rosemary.
2. Stir to break up the turkey and ensure the ingredients are well mixed.
3. Bring the pot to a boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Add the frozen or fresh vegetables. Continue to cook for five minutes.
5. Remove the pot from the heat and let the mixture cool before serving.

Beef Stew

This beef stew fromMoney Crashers is one of the best homemade dog food recipes to replace commercial wet food.

Ingredients:

• 1pound beef stew meat
• 1 small sweet potato
• cup diced carrots
• cup diced green beans
• cup flour
• cup water
• 1 tbsp organic vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Microwave the sweet potato for five to eight minutes until tender but still firm.
2. Cut up the beef stew meat into nickel-sized chunks.
3. Heat the vegetable oil over medium heat in a large pan. Add the stew chunks and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes or until well done.
4. Take the beef out of the pan but reserve the drippings.
5. Dice the cooked sweet potato.
6. Turn the heat to medium-low and heat the drippings. While whisking, slowly add the flour and water to the drippings to make a thick gravy.
7. Add the sweet potato, meat, green beans and carrots to the gravy and mix to coat.
8. Cook about 10 minutes or until the carrots are tender.
9. Let the stew cool completely before serving to your senior dog.
10. The leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Dry Dog Food

Wondering how to make dry dog food? Henrietta Morrisons cookbookDinner for Dogs is an excellent place to turn. Its filled with tons of ideas, ranging from oatmeal breakfast for dogs to homemade dry dog food recipes. The Bark breaks down the process of how to make dry dog foodhere it takes about an hour using one of Morrisons recipes featuring lentils, turkey, carrots, sweet potato, apples, steel-cut oats, parsley and rosemary.

Chicken Casserole

I stumbled upon quite a few homemade dog food recipes on Genius Kitchen, including this one forchicken casserole. While cabbage has antioxidants that are good for senior dogs, it can cause gas. If this is an issue, you may want to decrease the amount the recipe calls for. As for the spinach, its safe for dogs, however, not all pooches like it, so adjust accordingly.

Ingredients:

• 4 pieces boneless chicken with skin
• cup carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup cabbage
• 1 cup broccoli
• cup green beans
• cup spinach
• 1 cups brown rice
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

1. Rinse your vegetables and steam them until theyre almost soft enough to mash. When theyre done, set them aside.
2. While your veggies are cooking, put your chicken in a pot and add water to cover it. You want the water to be about an inch above the chicken.
3. Bring the pot to a slow boil and boil the chicken until the meat is cooked and the water turns into an aromatic broth, about 20 to 30 minutes.
4. When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot but reserve the broth.
5. Cook the brown rice in three cups of the chicken broth.
6. Remove the chicken skin and chop the chicken and steamed vegetables into small, bite-sized pieces.
7. When the rice is finished, combine it with the veggies, chicken and olive oil in a large bowl and mix together. You can also add some chicken broth.
8. Let the casserole cool completely before serving to your dog. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to three days.

Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Biscuits

No compilation of homemade dog food recipes would be complete without a treat! If youre watching your senior dogs weight, moderation is key, but for a special occasion, try thesepeanut butter and banana dog biscuits from All Recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• cup mashed banana
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• cup wheat germ (can also try oats instead if your dog isnt a fan of wheat germ)
• 1 lightly beaten egg white for the egg wash

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius). Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
2. In a medium bowl, stir the peanut butter, egg, banana and honey until well blended. Add the wheat germ and flour and mix thoroughly. Put the dough on a floured board and use a floured rolling pin to roll it out until its about -inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut into your desired shapes. Place the biscuits on the baking sheet and gently brush the tops with the beaten egg white.
3. Bake the biscuits in the oven until theyre golden brown and dried, about 30 minutes. Take them out and cool them on a wire rack.

Whether you go with commercial food or you try one of these homemade dog food recipes for senior dogs, combining a nutritional diet with exercise will keep your older pooch healthy and energetic.

Looking for a quick way to add some nutrition to your dog's diet? Check out Nibbles, our line of freeze-dried fruit and vegetable dog treat alternatives, which are single ingredient selections carefully chosen to help dogs with dietary restrictions such as food sensitivities, kidney disease, liver problems or simply dogs that need a low calorie option. Choose from green beans, diced carrots, apple slices or blueberries all sourced from Canadian and American farms.

If your senior dog has mobility issues, check out ourDogger dog stroller,Grippers traction socksand our Gentle Rise Pet Steps & Ramps. The assistance products are designed to help keep dogs moving, so they can safely get the exercise and stimulation they need.

Recipe: Homemade Senior Dog Food

Senior dogs can be particularly difficult to feed.Their metabolism has slowed down, and they may even have some health concerns that can be helped with the right diet. Thishomemade senior dog food won't be right for all older pups, so be sure to check with your vet before switching.

As your dog's metabolism slows and he becomes less active, he won't need to eat as many calories each day as he did when he was young and full of energy. He may also need to eat a diet higher in fiber that includes pre- and probiotics for digestive health.

Supplements, like glucosamine and chondroitin, are also beneficial to include in senior food recipes. There are many beneficial supplements that can aid in joint and hip health, digestion, cognitive ability and skin and coat health. Your dog may need assistance in all of these areas, and your vet can help you decide which supplements may be right for your pet.

Before you decide to switch your dog's diet (whether he's a senior or not) you need to discuss the change with your veterinarian or a trained canine nutritionist. Trying to make the switch yourself could lead to malnutrition or nutrient toxicity. This homemade senior dog food will not be nutritionally balanced for every dog, so be sure to check with your vet about supplements and/or multivitamins that would be beneficial to add to the recipe.

MORE: 6 Vet's Tips on How To Care for Senior Dogs

Homemade Senior Dog Food Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/4 pound 75-80% lean ground beef
• 2 cups COOKED brown rice
• 1 hard boiled egg (with shell)
• 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
• 1/2 cup blueberries

Directions

Brown the beef in a frying pan until cooked completely through. You'll need about 3/4-1 cup of DRY brown rice to make 2 cups of cooked brown rice. Cook the rice according to the instructions on the packaging.

Mash the boiled egg. Combine the egg, cooked brown rice, cooked ground beef, pureed pumpkin and blueberries in a medium-size mixing bowl. Mix until thoroughly blended.

Blueberries are chock-full ofnutrition, including some of the most essential vitamins and minerals that are good for dogs:

• Antioxidants
• Silicon
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B complex
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Iron

Blueberries have the highest antioxidants of all foods and help to improve heart health, and blood pressure, and improve memory/brain function. They have even been shown to protect against aging and cancer! For more on the many benefits of adding blueberries to your pet's diet, check out our science-based guide on the subject here.

Pumpkin is also a superfood for senior pets. Pumpkin is incredibly nutritious with relatively few calories and a huge amount of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. One of the biggest benefits of adding pumpkin to this homemade senior dog food is its high fiber content, which aids in digestion and helps with weight control.

Once the food has cooled, you can feed it to your dog. Therecommended serving size is about 1/2 cup for every 25-30 pounds of body weight. This recommendation is for 2 servings per day.

If you'd like to feed your senior dog smaller meals throughout the day, divide his daily recommended serving size by the number of meals you'd like to serve. For example, a 50-pound dog would need about 1 cup of food per serving. At 2 servings per day, he would eat about 2 cups of food each day. If you'd rather feed 4 smaller meals each day, feed 1/2 cup over 4 servings.

Keep in mind that more active seniors may need more calories than this, while lazier dogs may not need as many. It's best to check with your veterinarian about the best serving size for your Fido.

You can store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You can also make this homemade senior dog food in bulk and freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

READ NEXT: 8 Signs of Aging In Senior Dogs

Senior Dog Diet Homemade: Tips & Recipes from Kitchen to Bowl

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A well-balanced diet is very important for any breed of dog, regardless of age, and it gets especially significant for dogs in their senior years of life.

Age is not a definition for elderly dogs. A dog becomes a senior dog when they are at the third half of their breeds known lifespan. Caring for them during that period is very different and challenging as they are prone to many diseases and health conditions.

A balanced diet is crucial in preventing various health issues which can be seen in senior dogs.

This article will provide every detail there is to know about the homemade diet of the senior dog as well as tips and recipes on how to prepare them from kitchen to bowl.

Let us begin the read with an important topic.

Should you Feed your Senior Dog a Homemade Diet?

Yes, many veterinarians suggest that when a dog gets older, a homemade diet helps them overcome health issues that show up in the latter part of their life.

Readymade foods can be expensive, and your dog also gets bored by consuming the same old packaged food. It may also not serve the purpose of providing the required nutrients according to a particular dog.

A homemade diet allows you to filter and prepare recipes you know your dog likes. Also, it enables them to eat healthily without worrying about the added preservatives that come with packaged, readymade food.

Benefits of Feeding Senior Dogs with Homemade Food

Moving on to the most important topic, what are the benefits of feeding your senior dogs homemade food, and why choose homemade food over packaged readymade foods?

1. Obesity

The first and utmost benefit of providing your dog with homemade food is it prevents senior dogs from obesity. Obesity in dogs is now in trend, especially in the United States.

As dogs get to senior age, they are not active as they used to be, and without activity and the add-on of commercial food, they tend to put on weight, leading to many health issues.

2. Affordable

Homemade food can be very economical and affordable when compared to readymade commercial food packs.

Making dog food at home gives you the liberty to include ingredients that are cheap but nutritious. It can be just a simple chicken rice bowl but a highly nutritious and evenly balanced diet.

3. Variety of Recipes

Homemade food allows you to present varieties of food into your dogs bowl. As they get old, they tend to get bored of the same old food they have been eating for years.

Choosing a homemade recipe will allow you to control ingredients and manually customize the menu according to the dogs individual requirements and make the food bowl enjoyable, making eating interesting.

24 Nutrients Senior Dog must have in their Diet

Basic Homemade Food Recipe for Senior Dogs

Before deciding the menu for your senior dog, consult your veterinarian and show them the ingredients or the recipe. Feeding your dog without an experts opinion may lead to nutrient deficiencies and food malfunction.

A vet will know which nutrients and other supplements are required for your particular dog and what food items to be avoided depending on the health condition of your dog and then decide accordingly.

1. Brown Rice, Turkey, with Vegetables

A basic recipe with a very simple cooking procedure results in a healthy meal of brown rice, turkey, and veggies.

Once the cooking is done, the resulting food will be around 12 cups which you can divide into single servings and can be used for 4 to 5 days if kept in a refrigerator, or you can also keep it frozen.

Ingredients:

• One pound of ground turkey
• Two cups of brown rice
• One teaspoon of dried rosemary
• Half a package of frozen broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower, or you can take two cups of fresh vegetables and chop them into small pieces and put them on the gas to cook for about three to four minutes, make sure it gets tender but still remains firm.
• Six cups of water

Directions:

• In a big stewpot, add all the ingredients like water, brown rice, turkey, and rosemary.
• Mix all the components nicely and blend the turkey. Break it up, get the stewpot to boil, lower the heat, and let it poach for around twenty minutes.
• After twenty minutes, add freshly chopped vegetables, or if you have chosen a frozen vegetable, into the stewpot and keep on cooking for another four to five minutes until you sense the blending is done.
• Take it off the gas and let it cool down until it cools down, then serve two cups or as the amount they are prescribed to eat.

2. Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Biscuit

This is a recipe you need when you want to give your canine partners a treat. As said earlier, you do not want your dog to get obese, and giving homemade food is the key to preventing that.

But they, too, need a gift or a bowl-licking food once in a while, and this peanut butter and banana dog biscuit is best made for special occasions.

Ingredients:

• One egg
• One-third cup of creamy peanut butter
• Half cup of mashed banana
• One tablespoon of honey
• One cup of whole-wheat flour
• Half cup of wheat germ or oats if your dog is not a very big fan of wheat germ, as most dogs are not
• One timidly beaten egg white for the egg wash

Directions:

• Grease a cookie sheet just enough to cover and preheat the oven to 150-degree celsius.
• Take out a good-sized bowl, and mix the peanut butter, along with egg, mashed banana, and honey to it, to make it like a paste.
• Add the wheat germ or oats with flour and mix them well.
• Place the dough on a floured surface and spread it out with a floured rolling pin until its about 1/4 inch thick. Cut your preferred shapes with a cookie cutter. Brush the tops of the biscuits with the beaten egg white and place them on a baking sheet.
• Bake the biscuits until they are dried and when they change their color to golden brownish and about 30 minutes. Let them cool on metro shelves.

Dog Food Recipe for Senior Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs

If your dog has a sensitive stomach, being extra careful is a necessity. They can have allergies or some other digestive issues, but you have to comprehend and cook according to their needs.

1. Deerly Easy Dining

This is an easy-to-digest recipe for dogs with all kinds of sensitive stomachs, and this food, after it is cooked, can be frozen to serve later in portions.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of ground or cubed venison
• 2 cups of chopped sweet potatoes
• 8 ounces of frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots
• One tablespoon of dried rosemary
• 6 cups of water
• 1 serving of the sole dietary addition or supplement to use as a garnish

Directions:

• In a sizable Dutch oven or pot, combine the rosemary, water, venison, and sweet potatoes.
• Stirring often, bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low.
• For 20 minutes, simmer.
• Simmer for a further five minutes after adding frozen vegetables.

FAQs

Senior dogs have different nutrient requirements when they are aging, but the quantity remains the same as what they have been eating in the past. It is better to consult a veterinarian on the precise amount of food your dog should consume.

An ideal diet for a senior dog is not eating much fat and consuming adequate protein to avoid getting obese.

Yes, a senior dog can eat homemade food every day, but always consult a veterinarian before giving them homemade recipes and diet to avoid nutrition deficiencies and protein malfunction.

Conclusion

It is always hard to see your dogs age, and we, as pet parents, want to do everything to keep them playful and healthy.

This article will help your dog stay healthy as this read provides tips and recipes to make homemade food for your senior dog and shares the benefits of homemade dog food. If your senior dog has a sensitive stomach, use the above recipe to give them healthy dining.

Till then, take care and bye-bye

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Dr. Lillian is a D.V.M. passionate about promoting awareness of dogs. She shares her expertise through her blogs on canineweekly.com and provides animal care services, including internal medicine, dermatology, and emergency care. Dr. Lillian is committed to contributing to animal welfare.